Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2003-04: Dovgan played junior hockey with CSKA in Moscow and appeared in 12 games with CSKA’s second team in the Russian third division.2004-05: Dovgan played in CSKA’s junior program and was the center of some controversy when the Caps selected him in the seventh round (209th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Most teams thought he wasn’t eligible until 2006 draft but Washington presented proof of a February birthdate which made him eligible for the draft. Capitals management felt he would have been a surefire second-rounder in 2006.2005-06: Dovgan played eight games with CSK Samara in the Russian second division and scored 1 goal with 2 assists and 20 PIM. He had one assist in three playoff games with 4 PIM. Dovgan spent the majority of the season playing junior hockey and also represented Russia in an 8-team U-20 tournament in St. Petersburg and was scoreless in 4 games with 6 PIM.2006-07: Dovgan signed a three-year, entry-level deal with Washington in December and spent most of the season with South Carolina in the ECHL. Dovgan made his AHL debut on April 15 in Hershey’s game against the Philadelphia Phantoms. He was scoreless with 2 PIM in his only game with the club. He remained with the Bears during the playoffs but did not play in any games. In 53 games with South Carolina, he scored 2 goals with 10 assists and was -3 with 52 PIM. He tallied his first career goal in a 4-1 win at Augusta on November 10.2007-08: Dovgan attended the Capitals’ 2007 prospect camp and did his part to help goaltender Semyon Varlamov adapt to North America. He was loaned to CSKA in the Russia Super League but saw limited time in a veteran lineup. In 16 games, he had no points and finished +2 with 10 PIM.2008-09: Dovgan returned to North America for the final year of his entry level contract. He was +1 with 2 PIM in two games with Hershey in December and spent the rest of the season in the ECHL with South Carolina. Dovgan was limited early in the season due to injury but played well with Capitals’ 2005 first round pick Sasha Pokulok on defense and also played some wing for the Stingrays. Dovgan scored 2 goals with 10 assists and was -3 with 52 PIM in 53 games for South Carolina.2009-10: Dovgan returned to Russia and played nine games along with Lightning prospect Denis Kazionov in Ekaterinburg. He had no points and 8 PIM. Dovgan spent the bulk of the season with Ekaterinburg’s Russian High League affiliate Kurgun.

Talent Analysis

Dovgan was drafted by the Caps for his size, strength and a mean streak he displayed as a junior player in Russian hockey. A high energy player with some skill and work ethic, Dovgan was probably brought over to hockey too soon and had trouble adapting to the positional play in North America and had communications issues due to the language barrier. Injuries during his time in the ECHL also slowed his progress. Due to his size and skating ability, he was used sometimes as a forward and showed some promise as an energy-type, power player. Dovgan has a hard, accurate shot and can make a decent first pass but his stick handling and pass receiving skills are sub-par.

Future

Dovgan has not returned to North America since playing with the South Carolina Stingrays in 2008-09 and is a long-shot to return. Despite a temperament and playing style that fits North American, smaller rink hockey, Dovgan's lack of positional awareness and limited technical skills would have to improve greatly.